ESSENCE OF MAHA NARAYANOPANISHAD Edited and translated by V.D.N.Rao, Retd. General Manager of India Trade Promotion Organisation of Ministry of Commerce of Govt. of India, New Delhi presently at Chennai 1 Other Scripts by the same Author: Essence of Puranas:-Maha Bhagavata, Vishnu Purana, Matsya Purana, Varaha Purana, Kurma Purana, Vamana Purana, Narada Purana, Padma Purana; Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana, Markandeya Purana, Devi Bhagavata;Brahma Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Agni Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Nilamata Purana; Shri Kamakshi Vilasa Dwadasha Divya Sahasranaama: a) Devi Chaturvidha Sahasra naama: Lakshmi, Lalitha, Saraswati, Gayatri; b) Chaturvidha Shiva Sahasra naama-Linga-Shiva-Brahma Puranas and Maha Bhagavata; c) Trividha Vishnu and Yugala Radha-Krishna Sahasra naama-Padma-Skanda-Maha Bharata and Narada Purana. Stotra Kavacha- A Shield of Prayers Purana Saaraamsha; Select Stories from Puranas Essence of Dharma Sindhu Essence of Shiva Sahasra Lingarchana Essence of Paraashara Smtiti Essence of Pradhana Tirtha Mahima Dharma Bindu Essence of Upanishads : Brihadaranyaka , Katha, Tittiriya, Isha, Svetashwara of Yajur Veda- Chhandogya and Kena of Saama Veda-Atreya and Kausheetaki of Rig Veda-Mundaka, Mandukya and Prashna of Atharva Veda ; Also ‘Upanishad Saaraamsa’ (Quintessence of Upanishads) Essence of Virat Parva of Maha Bharata Essence of Bharat Yatra Smriti Essence of Brahma Sutras Essence of Sankhya Parijnaana- Also Essence of Knowledge of Numbers Essence of Narada Charitra; Essence Neeti Chandrika Es sence of Hindu Festivals and Austerities Essence of Manu Smriti*------------------- Quintessence of Manu Smriti* Essence of Paramartha Saara*- *Essence of Pratyaksha Bhaskara Note: All the above Scriptures already released on www. Kamakoti. Org/news as also on Google by the respective references. Those with * are under process] 2 PREFACE Essence of Maha Narayanopanishad is a picture reflecting popular Mantras of Hindu Life. These highlight the Sanskrit Stanzas as transliterated into English and their broad meanings. The examples are Purusha Sukta, Mantra Pushpa, Pancha Mukha Rudra Dhaana, Sandhya Vandana, and Shri Sukta. The none too less important concepts as highlighted in the Script include Gayatri in Celestial Images, Omkaara the Essence of Reality, Glory of Bhu Devi, Magnificence of Indra, Praana the very Life Force of Existence, Trisuparna Mantras: related to ‘Medha’ the Essential Truth Paramatma, Devi Maya the Trigunatmika and Hamsa Mantra, Angushtha Maatra Purusha, The quintessence of Satyam the Eternal Truth: ‘Satyameva Jayate’, Tapas-Dama-Shama-Daana-Dharma to attain Liberation, Anna Stuti, and Purusha Vidya. Thus this Essence of Maha Narayanopanishad is a sequel to the ‘Essence of Dwaadashopanishad’ which covers of Brihadaaranyaka-Katha-Taittireeya, Isha and Swetashvatara Upanishads of Yajur Veda; Chhandogya and Kena Upanishads of Saama Veda, Atreya and Kausheetaki of Rig Veda base; and Mundaka, Maandukya and Prashnopanishads of Atharva Veda. The Essence of Dwaadasha Upanishads was released already by www. kamakoti.org/ articles section and has been a resource base of quite a few of similar scripts like the Essence of Brahma Sutras already released by the website and those awaiting release by the website such as Essence of Manu Smriti and Essence of Prathyaksha Bhaskara. We the ardent devotees of Kanchi Mutt especially of Paramaacharya HH Chandrashekhara Maha Swami as also of HH Jayendra Saraswati and HH Vijayendra Saraswati are our spiritual Gurus for generations. The Maha Swami’s vision is the standing proof of Shri Lakshmi Kamakshi Nilaya at the heart of Chennai at the Greenways Road Extension. The Essence of Dwaadasha Upanishads was appropriately dedicated at the lotus feet of Paramaacharya already; my we in the Vemuri / Chavali families place yet another flower of fragrance at His lotus feet! VDN Rao --- 3 CONTENTS PAGE Prajapati the Immortal 6 Hiranyagarbha : Manifestation of Universe; Purusha Sukta 8 Gandharva Vena’s Self Realisation 10 Gayatri in Celestial Images 11 Significance of durva grass 13 Glory of Bhu Devi 13 Magnificence of Indra 15 Swasti and Invocations to Devas- Indra, Surya , Soma, Agni, Varuna etc 17 Jaatavedaagni invokes Maha Lashmi- Shri Sukta Text and Meaning 18 Jala Deva Varuna the Wonder Sustainer of the Universe 23 Special Prayers to Agni Deva: 27 Swaha -Swadha Mantras invoking the Celestials 29 OM the essence of Reality 29 Absolute Truth anchored to Tapas-Damam-Sacrifice-Satkarma 30 Devi Maya-Trigunas 32 Rudra the Truth-Paraa/Apara Vidya 34 Antaratma-what and where! 35 Mantra Pushpam 36 Uniqueness of Adithya Deva 41 Pancha Mukha Maha Deva 42 Agni Deva the Singular Medium of Lokas 44 Sandhya Vandana Mantras 46 Trisuparna Mantras: related to ‘Medha’ the Essential Truth Paramatma 48 Prayers to Medha Devi 48 4 Prayers to Rudra Deva 55 Defiance of Mrityu Devata by power of worship but its inevitability reaches Swarga 56 Oblations in favour of Agni, Vasus, Kaama and Krodhas 57 Significance of Tilas / Sesamum seeds in Oblations in Agnihotra 58 ‘Praana’-the very Life Force of Existence 59 Invocations to Pancha Bhutas,Jnaanendriyas, Atma-Antaratma-Paramatma-Hunger 63 Oblations by way of Vaishvadeva - Svishta Rites, besides Svishtakrit 66 Swaah to Dhanya-Dhana Lakshmi 66 Aajya homa in favour of Rudra Swarupa Shaktis 63 Recall of Omkaara Swarupas as Devatva-Trimurtitva-Paramatva 68 ‘Shraddha’ the symbol of Faith and Endurance linked with Pancha Praanaas 68 Grandeur of the ‘Angushtha Maatra Purusha’-the Supreme Controller of Life 69 Mrityunjaya the Ultimate Reliever of the binding knots of ephemeral Life 70 Agni the Lord of Yagjnas / Sacrifices 71 The quintessence of Satyam the Eternal Truth: Satyameva Jayate 71 Tapas-Dama-Shama-Daana-Dharma to attain Liberation 72 Other means of Liberation viz. Procreation, Yagjna, Maanasika, and Sanyasa 73 Prajapati reemphasizes Principles of means towards Salvation 76 Vedas prescribe Agni Karyas besides daily Agni performances twice for Salvation 77 Significance of Maanasika Puja or Inward Worship and Sanyaasa 78 Anna Stuti: From Surya to Varuna to Bhumi to Food to Control to Salvation 78 Parama Purusha is Omni-Potent, Omni-Scient and Omni-Present 78 Purusha Vidya 79 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 ESSENCE OF MAHA NARAYANOPANISHAD Harih Om/ Sham no Mitrah sham Varunah sham no bhavatyarmaa sham na Indro Brihaspatih sham no Vishnururukramah, namo Brahmane, namaste Vayo, twameva pratyaksham Brahma vadishyaami Ritam vadishyaami Satyam vadishyaami tanmaamavatu tadyuktamvatu avatumaam avatu vaktaaram Om Shantih Shantih Shantih/ Om sahanaavavatu sahanoubhunaktu saha veeryam karavaavahai tejaswinaavatheetamastu maa vidvishaavahai Om Shantih Shantih Shantih/ (We pray to Mitra, Varuna, Aryamaan, Indra, Brihaspati and the all permeating Vishnu to bless us and bestow auspisciousness and wellbeing. We prostrate to Brahma with veneration! We pay obeisance in esteem to Vayu Deva as the discernible Brahman Himself to safeguard and preserve us, the teacher and the followers. We pray to Him to nourish us together with physical energy and mental sharpness. Indeed let there be peace, fulfillment and mutual amity in our environment and all the forces around.) Prathamonuvaaka or Section One Prajapati the Immortal Stanza 1: Ambhasya paare bhuvanasya madhye naakasya pushthe mahato maheeyaan, shukrena jyotirishi samanu pravishthah Prajaapatischarati garbhe anantah/ Prajapati in the form of endless waters generated Bhur-Bhuvah- Swah or Bhumi-Aakasha-Swarga and above all a seed in the form of a foetus which multiplies into countless species as the latter are born-preserved for a while and degenerated. Sukra or Prajapati himself enters Pranis or Beings and after sustenance and destruction then Jyotirishi or transmigrates the Antaratma or the Inner Conscience. Thus the Paramatma replicates into Antaratma and the Jeeva or the Embodied Being rolls on in the eternal cycle of births and deaths merely carrying the load of Karma or the sum total of Paapa Punyas in the cycle of Time or the Kaala maana. Stanza 2: Yasmin tridasamcha vichaiti sarvayasmin Devaa adhi vishve nishaduh, tadeva bhutam tadu bhavyamaa idam tadakshare parame vyoman/ Prajapati the Karta having created the Bhokta or the recipient declared that He is the cause of existence of every creature as embodied besides the entirety of of all the causes too including preservation-dissolution-repeated transmigration of Souls too. As the imperishable Antaratma the Inner Conscience, Paramatma is the ‘raison d’tre’ as manifested Vyoman or Aakaasha which is but a constituent element of the Universe and in turn was the cause of the four elements of Prithivi-Aapas-Tejas-and Vayu or the Earth-Water-Fire -and Air. Stanza 3: Yenaavritam kham cha Divam maheemcha yenaaditya stapanti tejasaam bhrajasaam cha, yamantah Samudre kavayo vayanti tadakshare parame prajaah/ It is that Prajapati who fills in Mahim- kham-divam or the earth-space-and heaven besides the Pratyaksha Bhaskara provides radiation and illumination who also binds what the Sages firmly believe as the bond connecting the imperishable Paramatma and the Jeevas. Samudra or the Great Ocean is stated as the ‘daharaakaasha’ or the Internal Sky or the Self Conciousness of Jeevas and the Akaasha the Sky above are linked by way of meditation as believed. Thus the Antaratma and the Paramatma are integrated by the medium of intense realisation and sacrifice of worldly desires.